Studying Originals: Early Dickert of Lancaster Pennsylvania

[rich pierce]

Good stuff. Next: what do you like about it besides it being an early Dickert that says “early”?

My reactions :
Great architecture (if there hadn’t been wood loss at the nose of the comb) with clear Lancaster styling
Not my favorite patchbox. I’d prefer the Dickert-attributed box that lost its gun
Cheekpiece carving is excellent and foundational
Unlike the Marshall rifle or RCA 19 and others that could pass for provincial Germanic guns, this feels American-made, 100% to me. I wish I could point out exactly why besides the brass box.

[alacran]

I'm 1500 miles from my modest library at the moment, so I cannot give specifics as to a particular book. Most of the Dickerts being discussed here are his best efforts. He also made guns for military use and the one that comes to mind is in one of Whisker's book. I bring that up because I believe he probably made many unadorned rifles which are lost to time.
RCA 1 shows an Issac Haines that at best can be described as a modest rifle. Luckily it survives and shows the basic Lancaster traits without the bling.
I do not recollect the specific number in the RCA book.

[rich pierce]

I'm 1500 miles from my modest library at the moment, so I cannot give specifics as to a particular book. Most of the Dickerts being discussed here are his best efforts. He also made guns for military use and the one that comes to mind is in one of Whisker's book. I bring that up because I believe he probably made many unadorned rifles which are lost to time.
RCA 1 shows an Issac Haines that at best can be described as a modest rifle. Luckily it survives and shows the basic Lancaster traits without the bling.
I do not recollect the specific number in the RCA book.

Agree, this is high end and many were plainer and later.

[Jim Kibler]

What separates American from European pieces?

Hinged metal box
Curly maple for stock (small chance of finding this on a European piece)
Generally longer barrel

Next comes characteristic details that are assignable to particular makers from signatures etc...

[rich pierce]

What separates American from European pieces?

Hinged metal box
Curly maple for stock (small chance of finding this on a European piece)
Generally longer barrel

Next comes characteristic details that are assignable to particular makers from signatures etc...

Jim, do the guard and side plate on this Dickert fit well into the variability of these elements in contemporaneous European rifles?

[Jim Kibler]

The sideplate is certainly an iconic form that is often seen on American pieces and it certainly speaks to us.  I don't know if the squared off shape is ever seen on European pieces, but I think you do see some.  Probably not with this exact form, though.

The guard is certainly racier than most European examples and has to me trended in the iconic longrifle design.  Squared off finials with facets are seen on European examples though.

My 2 cents anyway....

[Lone Wolf]

To my eye that comb profile looks like it may have been altered later in life.

Agree, it looks like there is wood loss on the comb from above the front of the patchbox to the junction with the wrist.  Even without that possible wood loss, it seems like the nose of the comb would be pretty low before dropping to the wrist. If we compare the buttstock on this Dickert to that of the Albrecht Lancaster style buttstock, there are some significant differences. Is this an earlier style of Dickert architecture or a one-off to fit a specific customer? I don’t know how much that might have been done.

I've seen this Dickert before and have always wondered about the comb.  Was it made that way, was it worn down over time, was it damaged, or was it altered intentionally?

Here's the first gun I ever built, many moons ago, that was supposed to be a Dickert style.  The comb was equal parts inspired by Dickert examples such as the one shown in this thread, and not knowing exactly what I was doing.

[JTR]

Lonewolf, Nice job. You got the engraving basics on the patchbox down pretty well!

[Martin S.]

I am a Dickert fan.  My family goes back to Lancaster, PA, and I'd like to think that one of my ancestors owned one.

I've seen pics in books. I bid on one at auction, but sadly, could not afford it. I love to look at pics of them on the internet any chance I get.

Thanks for this thread.